Collapsible stand.



E. M. ATKINSON.

GOLLAPSIBLE STAND.

APPLICATION FILED APB..15, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1,079,385; Patented Nov..25, 1913.

WXTNESSES I INVENTOR [dward M. Af/r/nson.

E. M. ATKINSON.

OOLLAPSIBLE STAND.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1913.

' Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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EDWARD M. ATKINSON, 0F Z POBTLAND, OREGON.

COLLAPSIBLE STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed. April 15, 191,3. Serial No. 761,887.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. ATKIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Portland, in the county of Multnomah, State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Collapsible Stands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible stands and has for its object the providing of a stand which, when not being-used, may-be compressed laterally as well as longitudinally, thus reduced to a small package, so as to take up only a minimum amount of space while stored away.

To this end my improved stand consists of supporting legs made of bars pivotally connected in the form oflazy tongs, transverse shelf-like members, also made of pivotally connected bars, arranged in the form of lazy tongs, such transverse members supported by the legs; all the members being so pivotally connected with one another that the stand may be collapsed, folded and compressed in width as wellas in height, so as to render the stand reduciblev as a whole to a small compass or body; particular means for lockingthe members in their extended state, that is, when arranged for use as a stand; and brace-bars for imparting rigidity to the stand when arranged for supporting articles.

Other features of my invention will appear from my detailed description hereinafter given.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure.

1 is a plan or top view of my stand showing all parts in their expanded state, thus arranged for use as a stand; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my stand arranged for use as a stand; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my stand arranged for use as a stand; Fig. other end elevation, .howingmy stand in its folded state; Fig. 5 is a plan or top view-of my stand arranged in its folded state; and Fig. 6 is a detail of the locking and stiffening means whereby when my stand is arranged for use as a stand the members are locked against any tendency to fold up; the same construction also imparts rigidity to my stand as a whole when arranged for use as a stand.

The supporting sides or legs, a, consist of a lazy tongs, the members, 6, of which are pivotally connected at their ends and centers, as shown in Fig. 3. Pivoted to the cen- 4 is an-,

tor of the top-mostunit of each leg is a pendent arm 0, adapted to be engaged with the center of the next lower unitwhen the legs are expanded longitudinally, thereby acting as a diagonal brace to'keep the legs in such expanded position. The base of. each leg comprises a member d, pivot-ally attached to the lower end of one of the members b. The lower end of the opposite member, b, is provided with a small channel 6, in which the base member, .4, slidably bears. An extension base member, 7, is pivotally attached. to the lower face of the base member cl, and is adapted to be turned outwardly when the leg, a, is expanded, so'as to increase the bearing surface of the leg on the floor or other supporting surface.

Pivotally attached to each member, 7), is a laterally extending bracket-arm 9. These ltn'acket-arms act as supports for the-shelfleaves it. which extend laterally between the legs a. Each shelf-leaf comprises a series of lazy tong units composed of members '5, pivotally connected at their ends and centers. In order that these shelf-leaves may be maintained rigidwhen in their expanded position, I have provided a locking and stiffening device. This device consists of a shank 7c pivotally attached to one of the leg members I), with its upper end portion 5} bent so as to be approximately parallel to the shelf-leaf. On the extreme outermost end of this portion 3' is a pivoted cross-piece m. See Figs. 1 and 6. At the other end of the portion 3' is another pivoted cross-piece n, having one end made with an offset, as shown at, 0, in Figs. 1 and 6. The pivoting point of'this cross-piece, 'n, is made nearer one end than the other. The manipulation of this locking device is as follows: When the shelf-leaves and legs are expanded, the shank, 7c, is rotated to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3'and 6. The cross-piece m is then turned so that both ends will overlie the adjacent members, i, of the shelf. See Fig. 6.

The cross-piece n is then turned so that its the shelf.

VVhen the device is .to be folded upto its compressed form, the locking members, 0, m,

n, are released from their engagement with may be readily folded up to the form shown in Figs. {t and 5. e

The advantages of my invention are manifold, such a device being particularly adapted for displaying merchandise in show windows; for use in shops, where it is advantageous to have a light easily transportable stand; for use as a part of camping outfits, or for use in any place where space is to be economized. Furthermore, all parts of this device are made out of standard stock, and the consequent economy is an important factor.

I claim:

1. A'sta'nd consisting of legs made of bars pivotally connected in the form of lazy tongs, transverse shelf-like members made of pivotally connected bars arranged in the form of lazy tongs, the ends of such bars pivoted to said legs, means for locln'ng the legs against being collapsed, and means for locking the transverse shelf-like members in their extended state, such, means consisting of brace-rods pivoted to the leg members with locking bars adapted to be engaged with the adjacent members of the shelfleaves.

2. A stand consisting of legs made of angle bars pivotally connected in the form of lazy tongs, laterally projecting stub-bars on the interior of the legs; transverse shelflike members made of pivotally connected bars arranged in the form of lazy tongs, the ends of such bars pivoted to said stub bars of the legs; means for locking the legs against belng collapsed, such means, consisting of a pendant arm pivotally attached to the leg members and adapted to be posisisting of brace-rods pivoted to the le mem bers with looking bars adapted to e engaged with the adjacent members of the shelf-leaves. I

3. A stand consisting of legs made of bar pivotally connected in the form of lazy tongs; transverse shelf-like members made of pivotally connected bars arranged in the form of lazy tongs, the ends of such bars pivoted to said legs; means for locking the legs in their extended state, and other means for locking the transverse shelf-like members against being collapsed; an extensible base comprising a horizontall arranged base member plvoted to one o the lower members of each leg and slidably journaled relatively to the ad acent leg member; and a pivoted extensible arm attached to said base member and parallel to the latter.

4:. A stand consisting of legs made of bars pivotally connected in the form of lazy tongs; transverse shelf-like. members made of pivotally connected bars arranged in the form of lazy tongs, the ends of such bars pivoted to said legs; means for locking the legs in their extended state, and other means for locking the transverse shelf-like meme bers against being collapsed; an extensible base comprising a ho-rlzontally arranged base member pivoted to one of the lower members of each leg and slidably journaled relatively to the adjacent leg member; a channel support attached to the adjacent leg member in which said horizontally arranged base member slidably bears; and a pivoted extensible arm attached to said base member and parallel to the latter.

EDWARD M. ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

CECIL LONG, WM. C. ScHMrrr. 

